UNDRIP and You | Virtual Event
2023-04-13 10:30 - 11:30 (America/Denver) | Alberta
The governments of Canada and B.C. have adopted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) as their framework for reconciliation. But what does this mean for your organization and its work?

Nonprofits, foundations, and local governments have important roles to play in advancing UNDRIP. Join Y2Y’s Nadine Raynolds, Tara Marsden/Naxginkw, UNDRIP fellow, Real Estate Foundation of B.C. and Michelle Bryant-Gravelle, senior director, Indigenous Relations for the City of Vancouver for this free panel discussion to hear from organizations on journeys of learning and action to respect Indigenous rights.

Speakers

Tara Marsden/Naxginkw — Fellow, UNDRIP, Real Estate Foundation of B.C.
Michelle Bryant-Gravelle — Senior Director, Indigenous Relations, City of Vancouver
Nadine Raynolds — Manager, Communities and Conservation, Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative

Welcome: Mavis Underwood — Governor, Real Estate Foundation of B.C. Moderator: Sherry Yano — Director, Grants and Community Engagement, Real Estate Foundation of B.C.

Webinar details

April 13, 2023, 10:30 a.m. Pacific
Online. Free, with registration
This webinar will be recorded. Please register to receive the recording after the event.

Presented by the Real Estate Foundation of B.C. and Hlimoo Sustainable Solutions

Y2Y + National Museum of Wildlife Art: Interactive art show with sculptor George Bumann
2023-04-20 17:00 - 19:00 (America/Denver) | Alberta
An evening of canines, cake pops and conservation
Have you ever wondered how wildlife artists get inspired? How does their artistic journey with wildlife and nature begin? How do they weave a story into the art they are creating?
Now is your chance to experience an artistic journey that follows the story of one of Yellowstone’s most famous wolves.
On April 20, professional sculptor George Bumann will lead a live, interactive sculpture demonstration at the National Museum of Wildlife Art.
Watch as your input gets woven into an evolving sculpture — right before your eyes. Get a glimpse of the artist’s process. Learn how our personal experiences with wild landscapes and the power of art connects us deeply to the places we love; and how we can work together to protect them.
Scott Brennan, Y2Y’s senior director of conservation programs, will also share how art can open the conversation that leads to conservation.
This event is free and registration is not required. Doors will open at 5 p.m. MT and attendees can enjoy a cash bar and free cake pops. The interactive show will begin promptly at 5:30 p.m.
The King Gallery will be open for the duration of the event, and attendees are encouraged to explore the current exhibition, For the Love of Canines.
About the artist
George Bumann (rhymes with ‘human’) is a professional sculptor living with his wife, young son, and black Labrador Hobbes, at Yellowstone Park’s northern entrance in Gardiner, Montana. A life-long observer of nature, Bumann holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in wildlife ecology and has worked in the fields of wildlife research, taxidermy, back-country guiding, environmental consulting and has taught art and natural history programs for youth, adult, and university audiences for over three decades.
Bumann’s work can be found in collections and exhibits throughout the United States and around the globe. His sculptures reside in the permanent collections of the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, the Brinton Museum in Big Horn, Wyoming, the Booth Museum of Western Art in Cartersville, GA, and the C.M. Russell Museum in Great Falls, Montana. George’s art and educational outreach have been featured in publications such as the Salt Lake City Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Sacramento Bee, and on television, radio, and online through the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), Travel Channel, Discovery Channel, and Tedx Bozeman.
He is currently writing a book on the topic of animal language with Greystone Press.

The Innovation Station: Rocky Mountains | Virtual
2023-05-11 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Denver) | Alberta
Join Y2Y’s Dr. Jodi Hilty and Ngaio Richards, forensics and field specialist, for Working Dogs for Conservation at The Innovation Station, an event hosted by the Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues at the U.S. Department of State. Dr. Hilty will discuss innovations in habitat restoration, among other topics relevant to the Yellowstone to Yukon region and mission.

The Innovation Station amplifies woman and girl innovators developing solutions to climate-related challenges and builds relationships between those innovators and communities that could benefit from their work.

This event is free and open to the public.

1:00 PM ET – Welcome & Opening Remarks • Diana Berecz, Director, BALATORIUM (Opening Remarks) • Aubrey Paris, Gender, Climate & Innovation Policy Advisor, Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues, U.S. Department of State (Moderator)

1:10 – Innovations in Outdoor Recreation • Sarah Murray, Executive Director, Free to Run • Brittany Leavitt, CEO, Brown Girls Climb

1:45 – Innovations in Habitat Restoration • Jodi Hilty, President & Chief Scientist, Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative • Ngaio Richards, Forensics & Field Specialist, Working Dogs for Conservation

2:20 – Innovations in Mineral Resources • Gina D’Amato, Executive Director, Alliance for Responsible Mining • Cristina Villegas, Co-Founder, Moyo Gems

Biophilic Cities Pathways: A conversation with Dr. Jodi Hilty | Virtual
2023-05-23 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Denver) | Alberta
Please RSVP May 23 at 3pm ET/1pm MT as Y2Y’s Dr. Jodi Hilty joins Biophilic Cities executive director Tim Beatley and advisory board member Nina-Marie Lister for a conversation about Y2Y’s mission of connecting wild lands in harmony with the people of the region.

This event is free, online and open the public.

More about the event host, Biophilic Cities:

Biophilic Cities partners with a network cities, scholars, and advocates from across the globe to build an understanding of the value and contribution of nature in cities to the lives of urban residents. As a central element of its work, Biophilic Cities facilitates a global network of partner cities working collectively to pursue the vision of a natureful city within their unique and diverse environments and cultures. Network partners are working in concert to conserve and celebrate nature in all its forms and the many important ways in which cities and their inhabitants benefit from the biodiversity and wild urban spaces present in cities. Biophilic Cities acknowledges the importance of daily contact with nature as an element of a meaningful urban life, as well as the ethical responsibility that cities have to conserve global nature as shared habitat for non-human life and people.

Dene K'éh Kusān: Always Will Be There | Film and discussion with Y2Y and Dena Kayeh Institute
2023-05-25 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Denver) | Alberta
On Thursday, May 25, join us to learn how the Kaska Dena have, and continue to steward and protect Dene K’éh Kusān for all to experience, honor, and sustain, for generations to come.

Imagine a remarkable, intact wild place, abundant with grizzly bears, elk and caribou. A place where you can walk ancient Indigenous trails for weeks without meeting another soul. Somewhere both people and wildlife can thrive for generations to come.

Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y) and Dena Kayeh Institute invite you to explore this incredible vision for Kaska lands, people, culture and way of life through Dene K’éh Kusān (pronounced “deh-nay kay koo-sahn”), which means ‘The People’s Way, Always.’

Located in the core of the Kaska Ancestral Territory in northern British Columbia, Dene K’éh Kusān — a proposed Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA) — also adds an important puzzle piece to the Yellowstone to Yukon region.

Join us on May 25 for a screening of the 24-minute documentary, Dene K’éh Kusān: Always Will Be There, followed by a discussion on the plan to protect this special, and important place for generations to come — and how you can help support these Indigenous-led conservation efforts.

Following the film screening, we will learn more about the plan for Dene K’éh Kusān from four speakers:

Gillian Staveley, director of culture and land stewardship, Dena Kayeh Institute
Tanya Ball (Dahkadle), coordinator for the Dane Nan Yḗ Dāh (Kaska Land Guardians) Network, Dena Kayeh Institute
Tim Burkhart, landscape protection manager, Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative
Norm MacLean, senior wildlife biologist, LGL Limited, and technical advisor, Dena Kayeh Institute

Gillian Staveley, Tanya Ball and Norm MacLean who will share more about the Kaska Dena vision for how this incredible landscape will always be there, and how they are working with partners to protect Dene K’éh Kusān in a way that creates jobs, supports a thriving Kaska culture, shelters threatened species and becomes a world-class protected area for future generations.

Y2Y’s Tim Burkhart will also discuss how Y2Y is working with the Dena Kayeh Institute on advancing this proposed IPCA; and how we can all be allies in achieving the Kaska Dena’s plan for Dene K’éh Kusān.

This free event will take place online on Thursday, May 25, 2023, from 6 – 7:30 p.m. PT / 7 – 8:30 p.m. MT. The webinar will be recorded, though we encourage you to attend the live event if you can. Register for free to save your spot.

About the speakers

Gillian Staveley, director of culture and land stewardship, Dena Kayeh Institute

Gillian Staveley is a Kaska Dena citizen whose heritage lies in the Muncho Lake region of Dena Kēyeh in Northern British Columbia. Gillian is passionate about promoting and educating others about the importance of multi-generational indigenous knowledge. In her work as a director for DKI, a Kaska-run non-for-profit and charitable organization, she helps tell the story of Kaska Stewardship within her traditional territory and works to ensure that relationships with her people and the land are done so through UNDRIP’s obligations and commitments.

Tanya Ball (Dahkadle), coordinator for the Dane Nan Yḗ Dāh (Kaska Land Guardians) Network, Dena Kayeh Institute

Tanya is a proud member of both the Kaska and Tahltan First Nations. Her love for the land and for learning from her elders about culture, language and traditional knowledge has directed her studies and guided a career path which focusses on helping to advance the Indigenous Guardians movement and Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas. Tanya’s post-secondary education includes Certification in Earth and Environmental studies, Applied Environmental Techniques, Environmental Site Assessment Assistant Training, Advanced GIS, and the Boreal Guardian Program at Dechinta University.

Tanya currently works with the Dena Kayeh Institute as a Natural Resource Technician and guardian coordinator for the Dane Nan Yḗ Dāh Kaska land guardian program. She also works with the 3 Nations (Tahltan, Kaska, Taku River Tlingit) Society as the 3 Nations land guardian coordinator. Tanya brings front-line experience, deeply ingrained Kaska values, and a clearly articulated Indigenous perspective to her responsibilities representing the Kaska Nation at various public government management boards, advocacy forums and tables addressing policy matters and influencing decisions being made about the land and resources within the Kaska traditional territory.

She relishes being with young people on the land and leads with energy, commitment and passion in her work developing and coordinating the Kaska guardian program. Tanya continues to be excited by the opportunity to grow the data they collect and to work with the youth and elders, whose collective efforts she believes will provide a major contribution to the Kaska vision of realizing their goal to be the decision -makers guiding and shaping the future of their homelands for generations to come.

Norm MacLean, senior wildlife biologist, LGL Limited, and technical advisor, Dena Kayeh Institute

Norm MacLean, is a wildlife biologist with over 34 years of professional experience in Alaska, Northwest Territories, British Columbia and Yukon Territory. Prior to joining LGL Limited in 2002, Norm worked with provincial and territorial environmental agencies in northwestern British Columbia, and in the Northwest Territories. Norm has had the privilege of working for Dena Kayeh Institute, Kaska Dena communities and Kaska organizations for over twenty years. In addition, Norm has been working with the 3 Nations Society (Kaska, Tahltan, and Taku River Tlingit Nations) and member Nations.

Norm has experience on terrestrial ecosystems and wildlife habitats in boreal forests including woodland caribou, moose, bears, and wolves. He has been involved on the advancement of wildlife co-governance, co-management, information sharing, and joint decision-making agreements and applications of indigenous laws, principles, knowledge and practices. He has provided support for Kaska initiatives including guardian programs and the Dene Kʼéh Kusān – Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area.

Tim Burkhart, director of landscape protection, Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative

Tim has a lifelong love of wild places, and has experience in political organizing, park management, and research. Prior to joining the Y2Y team, Tim was committed to driving positive change as an organizer for multiple political, non-profit and labor campaigns.

As landscape protection director at Y2Y, Tim supports Indigenous-led conservation, working with local communities, scientists, government, industry and other interested parties to conserve biodiversity and wildlife connectivity in the Yellowstone to Yukon region. He advocates for conservation solutions in provincial policy initiatives, engaging with decision makers on ecological legislation and policy campaigns.

Tim lives in Nanaimo, B.C., with his partner Zoe, and dogs Mickey and Pippin.

About the film

“The Dena Kayeh Institute (DKI) is proud to bring together our communities, friends, and supporters, to share in Kaska storytelling with Dene K’éh Kusān, Always Will Be There.

Through this film, we hope to introduce the world to Dene K’éh Kusān, and to our people, culture, and our way of life. All are anchored to the land.

Narrated by DKI’s President, Kaska Elder, and well-known Indigenous Leader, Dave Porter, Always Will Be There shares the Kaska Dena vision for how we can protect and care for four million hectares of land and water — the largest remaining intact landscape in British Columbia.

Dene Kʼéh Kusān is at the very epicentre of our traditional territory, where you won’t find any roads or powerlines, but you can feel the heartbeat of our people in the boreal forests, in the towering mountains, and in the confluences of the rivers.

The Kaska Dena have cared for these lands and waters since time immemorial. Now, we are drawing on Kaska knowledge and stewardship to protect Dene Kʼéh Kusān for all to experience, honour, and sustain, for future generations.”

Header photo: Courtesy of Dena Kayeh Institute

A night for nature in the Bow Valley | Y2Y trivia night fundraiser
2023-06-15 18:00 - 21:00 (America/Denver) | Alberta
Love nature, the Bow Valley community, supporting conservation, and maybe even a good craft brew?

On June 15, come out and support Y2Y’s work to connect and protect the wildlife and wild spaces like the ones that make the Bow Valley so special.

Join us at the Wood Restaurant in Canmore, Alberta for an evening of nature conservation trivia games, good company, food and drinks — all for a good cause.

Tickets are available by donation to Y2Y (suggested donation of $5 per person.) All proceeds from ticket purchases go to Y2Y. Your support is appreciated!

Advanced registration is required to reserve seats. Seatings are available at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Please choose your seating time when registering.

Calgary-based Screaming Retriever Brewing Company’s Kananaskis IPA beer will be on special, with a portion of sales going to Y2Y’s work.

This is a family-friendly event! To add to the fun, the outdoor side patio is dog-friendly, so feel free to reserve your spot on the patio and bring your furry friend, too.

Why support Y2Y’s work in the Bow Valley and beyond?

The Yellowstone to Yukon (Y2Y) Conservation Initiative has its roots in the Bow Valley, having formed in the early 1990s. Today we are still based out of Canmore, with amazing work being done by team members across the region from Yellowstone to the Yukon.

The Bow Valley sits at the heart of the 3,400-kilometre-long Yellowstone to Yukon region — a stretch of intact mountain landscapes and ecosystems that are home to a myriad of wildlife from grizzly bears, caribou and wolverine; as well as many diverse communities, including at least 75 Indigenous territories.

Y2Y works to connect and protect landscapes across this important region so both people and nature can thrive. We highlight and focus on local issues — from wildlife crossings to coexistence with wildlife — that have implications for the region, and work with partners to stitch together this landscape. You are a critical part of this wild movement!

2023 Association Of Fish and Wildlife Agencies annual meeting | Calgary, AB
2023-09-23 - 2023-09-27 | Alberta
The 113th annual meeting of Association Of Fish and Wildlife Agencies is taking place in Calgary, Alberta from Sept. 23 to 27, 2023.

This annual event provides a forum for conservation leadership and brings together more than 700 leaders from fish and wildlife agencies and conservation groups from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canada and Mexico in order to discuss conservation policy and management issues and accomplishments.

Attendees include key decision-makers in the field of fish and wildlife, including; directors, assistant directors, program managers, and others involved in fisheries, wildlife habitat, law enforcement, legal affairs, industry, as well as public affairs, including information and education.

Y2Y will be presenting on transboundary coordination to advance safe wildlife passage across major highways in the Yellowstone to Yukon region and human-wildlife conflict. See more plenaries, workshops and sessions in the event schedule.

Corridor Connect: Ecology and Economy for a Better Florida | Orlando, FL
2023-09-26 - 2023-09-28 | Alberta
Y2Y’s Dr. Jodi Hilty will be a speaker at the 2023 Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation Corridor Connect conference. The event will combine ecology and economy for three extraordinary days of networking, solution-building, and strategy development aimed at shaping a better future for Florida.

Corridor Connect will bring together leaders from business, conservation and government to identify solutions for balancing Florida’s growth with the protection of our most at-risk resource — the Florida Wildlife Corridor. Attendance is by invitation only, but requests may be submitted.

Mega-Eco Project Symposium Philadelphia, PA
2023-10-05 09:30 - 18:00 (America/Denver) | Alberta
Y2Y’s chief scientist and executive director, Dr. Jodi Hilty, is presenting at the 2023 Mega-Eco Project Symposium at the University of Pennsylvania on October 5, 2023.
Esteemed project leaders and scholars will join Dr. Jodi Hilty in discussing some of the world’s largest ecological restoration endeavors during this public symposium, which will also feature keynote speakers, project presentations, and panel discussions.

International Symposium on Conservation Impact | Denver, CO
2023-10-11 - 2023-10-12 | Alberta
The Salazar Center for North American Conservation’s is hosting its 5th Annual International Symposium on Conservation Impact, taking place in Denver, Colorado from Oct. 11-12, 2023.

The Salazar Center’s annual symposia convenes a community of conservation leaders and provides a forum where scientists, practitioners, policymakers, and funders can explore new partnerships and approaches to the conservation challenges we face in North America.

The event will feature keynote presentations, curated panel discussions, and interactive breakout sessions to facilitate honest dialogue around this year’s theme: Nature-positive solutions.

2023 Montana Outdoor Recreation Summit | Butte, MT
2023-10-11 - 2023-10-13 | Alberta
The 2023 Montana Outdoor Recreation Summit 2023 is taking place in Butte, Montana from Oct. 11-13, 2023. The event is co-hosted by the University of Montana’s Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research, W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation, and Montana Access Project.

This multi-day event is dedicated to exploring the conservation, economic, and social aspects of outdoor recreation in Montana. Topics for discussion include the importance of preserving our natural resources for future generations, examining the economic impacts of outdoor recreation.

The program will include live panels, dynamic guest speakers, workshops, field tours, a film festival, and more.

Mountain and Resort Town Planners Summit 2023 | Rossland, B.C.
2023-10-11 09:00 - 2023-10-13 17:00 (America/Denver) | Alberta
The 2023 Mountain and Resort Town Planners Summit is a small, interactive multi-day conference happening in Rossland, B.C., from Oct. 11-13, 2023.

It’s for city and town planners, community members, conservationists, design professionals, conservationists, academics, and others committed to addressing the unique challenges faced by mountain communities.

Past programs have featured panels, keynote speakers, guided tours, and peer-to-peer roundtable discussions on mountain town issues such as coexistence, housing and more.

'There is a Place on Earth' film screening | An evening of art and nature
2023-10-26 17:00 - 21:00 (America/Denver) | National Museum of Wildlife Art, Jackson, Wyoming, United States
Discover the connection between art and nature
At Y2Y, we believe there is a strong connection between art and nature.
Nature can inspire and inform works of art that can move people to take action. Film is one such medium that can spark a passion for nature and wildlife.
On Thursday, October 26, you are invited to join Y2Y and the National Museum of Wildlife Art in person for a film screening of There is a Place on Earth with the filmmaker, Ellen van den Honert, and Y2Y’s senior director of conservation programs, Scott Brennan.
Doors open at 5 p.m. MT and the film will begin at 5:30 p.m. Ellen and Scott will available for a Q&A session after the screening of the film.
This event is free to attend and no registration is required.
About the film
Dutch filmmaker Ellen van den Honert explores a beautiful and poetic journey around the world meeting artists and conservationists to ask why and how art can become a vital pathway to wilderness conservation. The film features several conservationists including Harvey Locke, one of the founders of Y2Y.

Header photo credit: Wild About Music Foundation

Creativity and conservation: How art can inspire a movement
2023-10-29 17:00 - 21:00 (America/Denver) | Contemporary Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Film screening and panel discussion
Nature can inspire and inform works of art that can move people to take action. Film is one such medium that can spark a passion for nature and wildlife.
On October 29, please join Y2Y and Contemporary Calgary for a special evening that begins with the screening of the film There Is A Place On Earth by Ellen van den Honert, followed by a panel with guest speakers including conservationist Harvey Locke, filmmaker Ellen van den Honert, and Blackfoot artist Jared Tailfeathers, moderated by Joseph Lougheed. The conversation unfolds around our engagements with nature, and the ways in which art inspires conservation efforts.
Doors open: 5 p.m.
Film screening: 5:15 p.m.
Panel discussion: 6:30 p.m.
Tickets are $10 with one beverage included with your ticket purchase.
Panelists
Ellen van den Honert

Ellen van den Honert holds a degree in Political Science from the University of Amsterdam. She has worked internationally as a music teacher, project manager, and entrepreneur, while also managing a career as a songwriter and performing artist, successfully releasing the critical acclaimed albums, Breath of the Soul (2006), and Hummingville (2010). In 2015, Ellen established the Wild About Music Foundation dedicated to promoting the synergy of art and conservation. This led to the production of her first feature-length documentary, There Is A Place On Earth, exploring the role of artists in wilderness conservation on a beautiful and poetic journey around the world.
Jared Tailfeathers

Jared Tailfeathers is a multidisciplinary, Blackfoot (Kainai) artist, musician, inventor, workshop facilitator/teacher, amateur Historian/researcher and author. He builds original musical instruments for interactive projects, performances, workshops, recording, and for sale. He works in various styles, media, genres, and materials depending on the project or commission. His focus as an artist is to bridge gaps between arts and culture media, for cultural education, workshops, and collaboration. He is a Blackfoot territory art historian and land researcher. Since 2015 his work has been mainly in Indigenous arts and culture, working for the Calgary Public Library’s Indigenous Services, building relationships with artists, Indigenous run organizations (Making Treaty 7, IRIM, Siksika youth/arts), Knowledge keepers, ceremonialists, and elders from the Treaty 7 Nations and our neighboring Nations, research about Treaty history, important territorial sites and to support community members in their practices in public settings and organizations. He is working with a few municipalities in protecting and acknowledging traditionally important sites.
Harvey Locke

Harvey is co-founder and Strategic Advisor to the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. He served as President or Vice President of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society for 17 years and is currently its Senior Advisor, Conservation. He is a member of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas and co-founded the Nature Needs Half movement. A native of the Calgary-Banff area of Canada, Harvey is globally known for his work on wilderness, national parks and large landscape conservation from Yellowstone to Yukon and beyond. Named by Time Magazine as one of Canada’s leaders for the 21st century, he was recently awarded the Fred M. Packard International Parks Merit Award by the IUCN, a prestigious global award that recognizes his extensive conservation work. Harvey has led work on major private lands conservation projects for connectivity, national park creation and management, climate change and nature conservation, and he was a member of the executive committee for the World Wilderness Congress (WILD9) held in Merida, Mexico, in 2009.
About the film
Dutch filmmaker Ellen van den Honert explores a beautiful and poetic journey around the world meeting artists and conservationists to ask why and how art can become a vital pathway to wilderness conservation. The film features several conservationists including Harvey Locke, one of the founders of Y2Y.

Event partners and sponsors:

This event is sponsored by Tom Plunkett at Raymond James

Banner photo credits:
Bison and Museum Twenthe: Wild About Music Foundation
MinkeWhale: Bryant Austin
Axis Mundi: Bianca Lee Vasquez

Canadian Mountain Assessment report launch | Banff, AB
2023-11-04 17:00 - 21:00 (America/Denver) | Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, 111 Bear Street, Banff, Alberta, T1L 1A3, Canada
Join Y2Y and partners for the release of the Canadian Mountain Assessment report on Nov. 4, 2023 as part of the 2023 Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival. Contributors will discuss the unique approach to knowledge assessment and co-creation used to create the report, as well as the assessments key findings and recommendations.
The Canadian Mountain Assessment provides a first-of-its-kind look at what we know, do not know, and need to know about mountain systems in Canada. The multi-chapter assessment report is based on insights from First Nations, Métis, and Inuit knowledges of mountains, as well as findings from an extensive assessment of pertinent academic literature. The assessment’s inclusive knowledge co-creation approach aims to bring these multiple forms of evidence together in ways that enhance our collective understanding of mountains in Canada, while also respecting and maintaining the integrity of different knowledge systems. This transdisciplinary initiative is catalyzing a community of practice related to mountains in Canada and is expected to set the mountain research agenda for Canada for the coming decade.

Y2Y Wild Film Fest: Creating connections
2023-11-24 11:00 - 16:30 (America/Denver) | Alberta
Join Y2Y for a virtual film fest focusing on how connections are critical for the well-being of wildlife and people.
On November 24, we invite you to join us online (and for free!) at the next Y2Y Wild Film Fest to experience the power of film to inspire, educate and drive action for the conservation of wildlife and their habitat.
From bringing bison back, adding more wildlife crossings to the landscape, and deep ties to the land that span generations, join us to view films that highlight the connections of people and place.
We will showcase three films throughout the day that explore a different part of the Yellowstone to Yukon region and tell a unique story of connection, restoration and hope.
Each film will be presented live and followed by an engaging panel discussion featuring Y2Y program staff and some key people involved with the films.
Especially in the face of biodiversity, loss and climate change, people and nature need connections more than ever. We hope you’ll join us for the Y2Y Wild Film Fest!
Join us for all three films, or just the ones that interest you. Replays will be available to those who register until Monday, Nov. 27.

GET YOUR FREE TICKETS

The films
The Bison Cultural Project in Mînî Rhpa Mâkoche, or Banff National Park
Showtime: 11:00 a.m. Mountain Time (online, Zoom)
“This 15-minute documentary showcases the innovative project by the same name funded by the Canadian Mountain Network (CMN), which focuses on the restoration of Plains Bison to the mountain landscapes of Mînî Rhpa Mâkoche, also known as Banff National Park.”
Panelists:

Bill Snow, acting director of consultation, Stoney Nakoda Nation Tribal Administration
Nicole Olivier, Y2Y manager of landscape protection

How Indigenous values inspired the largest network of wildlife crossings in the USA
Showtime: 1:00 p.m. Mountain Time (online, Zoom)
“The 56-mile (90-kilometer) stretch of Highway 93 that runs through the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana contains one of the highest densities of wildlife crossings in the world. Previously known as one of the most dangerous roads in Montana, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) came together to address the safety issues of the highway while preserving wildlife, through the construction of 42 highway animal crossings.”
Panelists:

Alexandra Christy, filmmaker, storytelling & visual journalist
Tim Johnson, Y2Y landscape connectivity specialist
Whisper Camel-Means, wildlife biologist, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes

Life in the Land: Amskapi Piikani – Blackfeet Nation
Showtime: 3:00 p.m. Mountain Time (online, Zoom)
“The Amskapi Piikani (People of the Blackfeet Nation) have interacted with every element of this landscape, across much of what is today known as Montana, since time immemorial. In this area of Northwest Montana, home to the Blackfeet Nation, stands the mountains which Piikani refer to as the “backbone of the world”. Hear unique perspectives from Amskapi Piikani as they carry on the holistic approaches and reciprocal relationships that have always been a part of their culture and traditions, in ways that empower their community as they move into the future.”
Panelists:

Kim Paul, Piikani Lodge Health Institute
Josh Welsh, Y2Y communities and conservation manager

Banner photos (L-R): NPS/Jacob W. Frank, Andy Wright, Shutterstock photo

An Evening with Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative | Vancouver, B.C.
2023-11-30 19:00 (America/Vancouver) | Alberta
Conservation, community, cinema — and caribou!
Two for the caribou! On Thursday, November 30 at 7 p.m. PT we invite you to join Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative for an evening of conservation, community, cinema — and caribou! Join us at the Vancouver Patagonia store for a compelling double feature film event — “Last Stand: The Vanishing Caribou Rainforest” and “Caribou Homeland.”

The screening will be followed by a panel discussion featuring:

Filmmaker of “Last Stand: The Vanishing Caribou Rainforest” and “Caribou Homeland,” David Moskowitz
Naomi Owens-Beek, Director of Treaty Rights and Environmental Protection for Saulteau First Nations and a member of the Nîkanêse Wah tzee Stewardship Society
Y2Y’s Tim Burkhart who will speak about the on-the-ground impact of caribou conservation in Treaty 8 territory.

RSVP TO ATTEND

The films

Last Stand: The Vanishing Caribou Rainforest: Hidden in the interior of the Pacific Northwest is the largest remaining inland temperate rainforest on earth. This magnificent landscape is home to numerous First Nations communities, thousand year old trees and critical habitat for endangered species like mountain caribou. However, industrial development has pushed this ecosystem to the tipping point. The 34 minute documentary “Last Stand” puts the Caribou Rainforest on the map before it’s too late.

Caribou Homeland: Two First Nations in western Canada come together to protect an iconic animal they’ve relied upon for countless generations. This film offers a glimpse into the multi-faceted, Indigenous led, conservation project that has created the most successful caribou recovery program in North America. The West Moberly and Saulteau First Nations’ work to restore mountain caribou, food sovereignty and their traditional cultures is a unique and poignant bright spot on the conservation map.

Registration is requested for each attendee. Please follow the RSVP link to sign up.

Mountain Research & Development Talk #06 | Virtually on Zoom
2023-12-06 09:00 - 10:30 (America/Denver) | Alberta
Join Y2Y-UNBC Postdoctoral Fellow Devin Holterman and panelists for MRD Talk #06
How can knowledge support restoration and conservation of mountain ecosystems for the benefit of people and nature?
Mountain Research and Development (MRD) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) are co-organizing the sixth Mountain Research and Development Talk, which will take place on Zoom, Wednesday, December 6 at 9:00 am MT. MRD author and Y2Y-UNBC Postdoctoral Fellow Devin Holterman will participate alongside three other panelists to offer insights into how their work promotes evidence-informed restoration of mountain landscapes for resilient mountain communities.
During the discussion, all participants will engage in examining the most effective ways to generate, disseminate, and apply transformative knowledge. Devin Holterman will share his findings on the social science research priorities for the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative.
These MRD Talks form part of the PRIMA project, with funding from the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC).

Wildlife Corridors in the Bow Valley: The Good, the Bad, and the Future | Canmore, Alta.
2024-01-15 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Denver) | Canmore Public Library, 700 Railway Avenue, Canmore, Alberta, T1W 1P4, Canada
Join Y2Y’s Dr. Hilary Young, director of communities and conservation, for an event in the Earth Talks series from the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley on Monday, Jan. 15.
Attendees will learn:

What are wildlife corridors, why are they important, and why do I hear so much about them in the Bow Valley?

What characteristics must wildlife corridors have to keep wildlife populations healthy and resilient?

How do we keep our corridors functional in the face of future pressures?

This Earth Talks event is Monday, Jan. 15 at 7 PM MT in the Canmore Public Library Friends Program Room. Admission is free, with donations graciously accepted.
Register

About the presenter:
Dr. Hilary Young is a Canmore local and conservation professional with almost a decade of experience working to protect and connect habitat in western Canada. Shortly after completing her PhD in Ecology at the University of Calgary, Hilary was thrilled to find work at the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y) that blends her passion for the beautiful Rocky Mountains with her background in ecology and conservation biology.
What is Earth Talks?
Earth Talks is a new program at Canmore Public Library, in collaboration with the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley, delivering monthly environmental speakers and conversations relevant to the community.

Y2Y + Whyte Museum speaker series: Land-based learning and the importance of Indigenous youth leadership | Banff, Alta.
2024-01-22 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Denver) | Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, 111 Bear Street, Banff, Alberta, T1L 1A3, Canada
Y2Y and the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies present our next speaker series event on January 22
Join Daryl Kootenay as he speaks about his experience working with Stoney Nakoda youth, as well as youth in the Bow Valley of Alberta and around the world. Discover more about how land-based learning and reflection can help all of us connect to the landscape through feeling, language, listening and healing.
Learn why having Indigenous youth lead the way for land-based learning and conservation can support connecting and protecting nature in the Bow Valley and beyond.
This event will take place at the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies in Banff, Alberta. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online.
About the speaker
Daryl Kootenay (he/him) is a Traditional singer, dancer, artist, speaker, youth leader, and film maker. He is from the Stoney Nakoda Nation of Treaty 7 Territory in southern Alberta and a member of the Dine (Navajo) Nation in New Mexico from his father’s Heritage. He is the co-director of Howl, which offers unique learning experiences across Canada for youth.
Daryl has travelled globally to volunteer in countries such as Peru, Nicaragua and throughout Africa working with Canada World Youth (CWY) first as a participant, then an intern and employee. In 2022, Daryl led a fourth delegation of youth from his nation and CWY at the United Nations World Conference of Indigenous Peoples and the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Rights. He attended the Young Global Diplomat Forum in London England in 2019.
He now dedicates much of this time to working locally with Stoney Nakoda youth and youth throughout the Bow Valley. He is a teacher of traditional art and dance, the co-founder of the Stoney Nakoda Youth Council, group leader for the Project Nakoda Outdoor Wilderness Experience (NOWE), and co-convener of the Mni Ki Wakan: World Indigenous Decade of Water Summit. Daryl’s particular area of focus and expertise is in relationship with Truth and Reconciliation in the Bow Valley.

Photos: Daryl Kootenay (courtesy of Howl); hands in a circle (Hannah Busing/Unsplash)

Pint of Knowledge | Castlegar, B.C.
2024-02-15 18:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Alberta
Come out for coexistence, communities, and great company
B.C. Backcountry Hunters presents Pint of Knowledge, happening Thursday, February 15 at 6PM PT.
Come out to learn more about Y2Y’s work to help communities understand, embrace, and adopt practices that promote harmonious coexistence with wildlife. Josh Welsh, Y2Y’s Communities and Conservation and Senior Manager, will share insights on ‘Wise Practices for Human-Wildlife Coexistence’.
Join us at Tailout Bewing in Castlegar, British Columbia, for a fun evening of coexistence conversations, door prizes, raffles, food and drinks. All ages are welcome.
Why does Y2Y’s coexistence and communities work matter?
Communities and wildlife thrive when the needs of both are met.
Some species, such as grizzly bears, represent the health of a landscape and many other species because of their habitat requirements. So, if people living within the Yellowstone to Yukon region can coexist with grizzly bears, then our collective environment will be healthier.
Reducing human and wildlife conflicts maintains safety, builds community-wildlife tolerance and improves wildlife habitat across the landscape. Y2Y’s work supports people seeing bears as a part of a healthy system, and not solely an element to manage.

Introduction to black swifts | Free online training
2024-03-14 12:30 - 2024-03-20 16:30 (America/Denver) | Alberta
Are you a researcher interested in learning more about the endangered black swift bird?
On March 14 and March 20, 2024, Y2Y is hosting two free online training presentations led by Paul Levesque, BSc., on an introduction to black swifts.
Who are these trainings intended for? Those working on land birds, aerial insectivores, and surveying for species at risk may find this training useful. Attendees will learn about this species’ biology, inventory, nest searches, and nest site habitat surveys.
When does it take place? There are two trainings available. Free registration is required to attend. Please register for the date/time that works best for you:

Thursday, March 14, 2024 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. MST – Register for March 14 here >>

OR

Wednesday, March 20, 2024 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. MST – Register for March 20 here >>

Please note: These trainings will be taking place on Teams. Please ensure you download the Microsoft Teams app to your mobile or desktop device prior to joining the meeting. Any questions about this event can be sent to this email.
About the presenter
Paul Levesque is an independent biologist working on inventory projects across British Columbia. He has co-authored several papers on Black Swifts and has discovered many new nesting sites in western Canada. In recent years, Paul has helped to advance Black Swift methodologies and develop the Canadian Black Swift survey protocols.
More about black swifts
The Black Swift is the largest swift in North America. Canada is home to over 80 percent of the population. It has an almost entirely blackish plumage, has long, pointed wings and is the only North American swift with a notched tail. As well as having many unusual life-history traits compared to other landbird species, the Black Swift may be a sensitive indicator for climate change. This is because its waterfall nesting sites are likely to be impacted by decreased snow pack and glacial melt. The Black Swift feeds exclusively on flying insects.

This event is made possible with financial support from Environmental Damages Fund, ECCC, Canada.
Photo credit: Jess Findlay Photography

Reconnecting the Rockies: Bridging Nature and Roads on Highway 3 | Fernie, B.C.
2024-03-14 16:00 - 17:30 (America/Edmonton) | The Arts Station, 601 1st Avenue, Fernie, British Columbia, Canada
Join us for Reconnecting the Rockies: Bridging Nature and Roads on Highway 3 on Thursday, March 14. This special event is proudly brought to you by Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y), and Wildsight Elk Valley .
The Elk Valley is a vital corridor for grizzlies, elk, and more, connecting Banff National Park and Glacier-Waterton International Peace Park. Highway 3 is a barrier that poses challenges for wildlife here, resulting in deadly collisions. Up to 200 large animals are killed each year, and there are costs to people, too.
Join us at The Arts Station in Fernie on March 14 for an exciting in-person event to explore the fascinating world of wildlife crossings and road safety. Learn about local projects reshaping Highway 3 for both critters and commuters in both B.C. and Alberta.
Attend this free event and connect with local wildlife experts, road ecologists, and safety advocates in an insightful panel discussion about ongoing local wildlife crossing projects along Highway 3. Learn how you can be part of a solution.
This event is open to all and free, but you must RSVP to secure your spot.

When
March 14, 2024, 4 – 5:30 pm MT

Where
The Arts Station,
601 1st Avenue
Fernie, B.C.

Introducing the UN International Year of Glaciers' Preservation: The state and fate of Canada's snow and ice | Free webinar
2024-03-21 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Denver) | Alberta
Snow and ice are a part of the Canadian identity. We need to protect them. Learn what’s being done at this free webinar on March 21.
Hosted on the soon-to-be World Day for Glaciers (March 21), this event will introduce Canada’s contribution to the United Nations’ International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation (UN IYGP.)
Learn how snow, ice and resulting water conditions are changing in the Canadian Mountain West and North, and what this means for the country as a whole. An audience Q&A with the guest speakers and message from the Global Institute for Water Security will conclude the event.
This is a free event hosted by the Canadian Committee for the UN IYGP.
Please register here.
Guest speakers

John Pomeroy: Canada Research Chair in Water Resources and Climate Change, Director, Global Water Futures Programme; Director, Centre for Hydrology, University of Saskatchewan
Alison Criscitiello: Director, Canadian Ice Core Lab, University of Alberta
Bob Sandford: Senior Government Relations Liaison, Global Climate Emergency Response at the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment, and Health
Corinne Schuster-Wallace: Executive Director, Global Institute for Water Security, University of Saskatchewan

Y2Y is excited to be an official partner on the Canadian Committee for the United Nations’ International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation! Follow along in 2024 and 2025 as we celebrate the splendor of frozen landscapes. We’ll be sharing more opportunities like this to recognize the impacts of climate change on snow and ice and their implications for downstream water resources.

'Losing Blue' film screening with Guardians of the Ice | Canmore, Alta.
2024-03-21 18:30 (America/Denver) | artsPlace Canmore, 950 8th Avenue T1W 2T1, Canmore, Alberta, T1W 2T1, Canada
Attend this free film screening in Canmore, Alberta on March 21 and learn about the impact of climate change on the color of glacial lakes.
In honor of the soon-to-be World Day for Glaciers, join Y2Y’s partner, the Canadian Committee for the UN International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation, Guardians of the Ice, and others on March 21 at artsPlace Canmore for a special screening of Losing Blue, a 17-minute cinematic poem by Leanne Allison about the impact of climate change on the color of glacial lakes.
The event will also feature:

The official launch of the new beer, Mount Andromeda, sixth in the Guardians of the Ice series produced by Banded Peak Brewing, presented by alpinists Jim Elzinga and Barry Blanchard;
A sneak peek of MELTDOWN, a photographic exhibition by Jim Elzinga and Roger Vernon (coming to the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies in 2025);
A Q&A opportunity with the speakers, including filmmaker Leanne Allison;
Raffle prizes courtesy of Patagonia Banff and Guardians of the Ice;
Post-presentation socialization and cheer!

Tickets are free, and the event will run from 7 to 9 p.m. MST (doors open at 6:30.)
PLEASE RSVP HERE.

More about the film ‘Losing Blue’
What does it mean to lose a color?
Losing Blue is a cinematic poem about losing the otherworldly blues of ancient mountain lakes, now fading due to climate change.
With stunning cinematography, this short doc immerses the viewer in the magnificence of these rare lakes, pulling us in to stand on their rocky shores, witness their power and understand what their loss would mean — both for ourselves and for the Earth.
Film length: 17 min. Produced by the National Film Board of Canada. Best Canadian Short Film Winner, Planet in Focus International Environmental Film Festival (2023).

More about Guardians of the Ice:
Guardians of the Ice is a social purpose organization focused on the rapidly-shrinking Columbia Icefield as a leading indicator of the worldwide climate crisis. Their purpose is to effectively engage the public to build support for a low-carbon future:
“Through film, still photography and writing, we link the emotional power of art with the cognitive clarity of science, as a way to communicate the urgent implications of what the scientists are uncovering in the Icefield. As our slogan Ice=Water=Life implies, water and water security are central to our mission.”

Y2Y is excited to be an official partner on the Canadian Committee for the United Nations’ International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation! Follow along in 2024 and 2025 as we celebrate the splendor of frozen landscapes. We’ll be sharing more opportunities like this to recognize the impacts of climate change on snow and ice and their implications for downstream water resources.

Y2Y + Whyte Museum speaker series: The Kainai Iinnii Rematriation Project, Restoring the plains bison as an ecological and cultural keystone
2024-04-09 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Denver) | Alberta
Y2Y and the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies present our next speaker series event on April 9
Join Justin Bruised Head as he speaks about his experience working as The Kainai Iinnii Rematriation Project Coordinator at Blood Tribe Land Management. Discover more about efforts to reintroduce bison as part of maintaining and restoring nature and community along the Rocky Mountain Front.
Learn more about the people working to return buffalo to the land and revitalize culture and the hope for the buffalo’s return within the Yellowstone to Yukon region.
This event will take place at the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies in Banff, Alberta. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online.
About the speaker

Justin Bruised Head (“Akkamootskoonaki”) works as The Kainai Iinnii Rematriation Project Coordinator at Blood Tribe Land Management. Justin was born and raised in a ranching and rodeo family in Southern Alberta and he is a member of the Blood Tribe First Nation of the Blackfoot Confederacy in Treaty 7.
Justin received his Post-Secondary Diploma in Renewable Resource Management in 2017, and Bachelor of Applied Science Degree in Ecosystem Management in 2019 from the Lethbridge College. He thoroughly enjoys the outdoors and is an advocate for grassland conservation & restoration on the Blood Reserve.

The May Social — Indigenous-led Environmental Stewardship: The Future of Conservation featuring Y2Y | Calgary, Alta.
2024-05-21 19:30 - 21:00 (America/Denver) | Joyce on 4th, 506 24 Ave SW, Calgary, Alberta, T2S 0K4, Canada
Learn how science and Indigenous Knowledge are coming together to protect core habitat in the Yellowstone to Yukon region

The Alberta Alpine Club presents its May Social on May 21, 2024 in Calgary, AB at 7:30 pm MT. Join Y2Y’s Nicole Olivier and Dayna Big-Plume alongside Mr. Elliot Fox from the Blackfoot Confederacy for an evening of good company and conversation on the topic of Indigenous-led Environmental Conservation.
Discover what the Landscape Protection Team at Y2Y is doing to to help meet Canada’s 2030 biodiversity goals, and the role of Indigenous-led conservation in contributing to a connected and protected future for both people and nature.
This free event will feature a speaker panel, and a Q&A segment. Food and beverage is available for purchase.
Featured speakers:

Nicole Olivier, Manager of Landscape Protection, Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative

Nicole is a member of the Ojibway First Nation of Fort William outside Thunder Bay, Ontario. Nicole brings with her over 24 years of experience supporting all phases of clinical and community-based research at the University of Alberta. Nicole’s experience in bringing diverse groups together, coordinating knowledge exchange and facilitating the role of communities as partners in decision making through the use of the IAP2 Spectrum of Engagement and ethical space, as well as her expertise as a project manager and trainer will be a major asset in Y2Y’s work to support Indigenous-led conservation.

Dayna Big-Plume, Landscape Protection and Highway Connectivity Co-ordinator, Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative

Dayna is Indigenous and deeply rooted in her culture and traditional knowledge. She has lineage from the Tsuut’ina (Dene), Rocky Boy (Chippewa Cree), and the Aamskapi Pikuni (Blackfeet) Nations. Dayna grew up in both Alberta, Canada and Montana, USA. With an academic background in communications and experience in public relations, multimedia, and project management, Dayna has served her Indigenous First Nation and surrounding communities to connect and cultivate strong relationships. With a family with a background in conservation, she has a passion for conserving our environment. Dayna believes Indigenous-led conservation, sustainability, eco-balance, and environmental sciences are imperative areas of expertise that are vital for our future ecosystems.

Elliot Fox, Project Manager – Environmental Protection and Conservation, Blackfoot Confederacy

Makoyoohkinnii, Elliot Fox is a member of the Kainai (Blood Tribe) First Nation of the Blackfoot Confederacy and will talk about what the Blackfoot are doing to strengthen their relationships to their traditional Blackfoot Territory lands and waters in the Alberta east slopes, while leading conservation efforts to inform local and regional land use policies and prioritize conservation and restoration actions to elevate their traditional rights and role in land use management.

The speaker panel begins at 7:30 pm MT, please arrive before 7:15 pm MT to ensure your seat. Guests, walk-ins and non-members are welcome. Tickets are free, RSVPs preferred.

Art for the Earth | Screening and dialogue in Berkeley, California
2024-06-22 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Denver) | David Brower Center, 2150 Allston Way, Berkeley, California, 94704
Discover the connection between art and nature
Art has the unique power to convey environmental messages and inspire action in ways that words alone cannot.
Nature can inspire and inform works of art that can move people to take action. Film is one such medium that can spark a passion for nature and wildlife.
On Saturday, June 22, you are invited to join Y2Y at the David Brower Center in person for a film screening of There is a Place on Earth with the filmmaker Ellen van den Honert, photographer and author Bryant Austin, and Y2Y’s president and chief scientist, Dr. Jodi Hilty.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. PT and the film will begin at 7:00 p.m. Ellen and Jodi will available for a panel discussion after the screening of the film.
Tickets for the event are $25-$30 each. Food is included in the cost of the ticket.
About the film
Dutch filmmaker Ellen van den Honert explores a beautiful and poetic journey around the world meeting artists and conservationists to ask why and how art can become a vital pathway to wilderness conservation. The film features several conservationists including Harvey Locke, one of the founders of Y2Y.

About the panelists

Bryant Austin is an American photographer known for his life-size portraits of whales, some measuring up to eight by thirty-six feet. These detailed works result from spending months at sea and capturing close encounters with whales using specialized underwater photography equipment. Austin’s exhibitions in whaling countries like Norway and Japan have shown that a gentle and non-polarizing approach can foster positive change. His current focus is on the sun, its relationship to Earth, and how photons fall on our planet. Austin has been featured globally, with his current show at the Datz Museum of Art in Seoul. He was a 2019 SFMOMA SECA Award nominee. Born in Sacramento in 1969 and now residing in Carmel, CA, he has published two photography books, Beautiful Whale and sun, water, being.

Ellen van den Honert holds a degree in Political Science from the University of Amsterdam. She has worked internationally as a music teacher, project manager, and entrepreneur, while also managing a career as a songwriter and performing artist, successfully releasing the critical acclaimed albums, Breath of the Soul (2006), and Hummingville (2010). In 2015, Ellen established the Wild About Music Foundation dedicated to promoting the synergy of art and conservation. This led to the production of her first feature-length documentary.

Dr. Jodi Hilty is the President and Chief Scientist at Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, with over 25 years of experience in large landscape conservation and ecological corridor research. She is a co-editor or lead author of four books, notably “Corridor Ecology: Linking Landscapes for Biodiversity Conservation and Climate Adaptation” (2019). Jodi is personally committed to promoting diversity in science and conservation, actively supporting and mentoring the next generation of leaders in these fields.
Header photo credit: Wild About Music Foundation

Wise Practices for Living with Wildlife | Canmore, Alta.
2024-09-16 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Denver) | Canmore Public Library, 700 Railway Avenue, Canmore, Alberta, T1W 1P4, Canada
Join Y2Y’s Josh Welsh, senior manager of communities and conservation, for an event in the Earth Talks series from the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley on Monday, Sept. 16.
Attendees will discover:

Human-wildlife coexistence as a pathway to abundance.
The Canmore Area Trails Strategy’s role within a larger puzzle.
How purposes are revealed through behavior, not just rhetoric or stated goals.

This Earth Talks event, with the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley, will take place at the Canmore Library (Friends Program Room) at 7 p.m. MDT. Admission is free, with donations graciously accepted.
Register
JOIN ONLINE VIA ZOOM

About the Presenter:
Josh joined Y2Y in 2021 after working 20 years developing a body of work that seeks balance between land-based conservation and development in Canada and the United States. His approach has always been dedicated to the pursuit of building social and ecological resilience. With his background as a planner in mountain towns, a landscape architect, and a national park ranger, Josh’s current work is about sustaining how we might live, work, and play within the Y2Y corridor, the most intact mountain region on the planet.
What is Earth Talks?
Earth Talks is a program at Canmore Public Library, in collaboration with the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley, delivering monthly environmental speakers and conversations relevant to the community.

10th Anniversary of the Buffalo Treaty | Blood Tribe/Kainai Nation, Standoff, Alta.
2024-09-22 08:00 - 2024-09-25 17:00 (America/Denver) | Alberta
Join in a celebration and gathering to mark the 10th anniversary of the Buffalo Treaty signing

This four-day event, taking place from September 22–25, 2024, will be co-hosted on the Blood Reserve by the Blood Tribe — along with the International Buffalo Relations Institute and the Buffalo Women’s Society (Motokiiksi).
The gathering celebrates the renewal of the relationship with the buffalo through songs, stories, and ceremonies.
The 10th anniversary celebrations will take place across various locations throughout the Kainai Nation, including Red Crow College, Red Crow Park, the University of Lethbridge and Lethbridge College, as well as other historical sites throughout the Blackfoot Confederacy.
The theme of the 10th anniversary celebration is Renewal, honoring the timeless connection between Indigenous Peoples and the buffalo. Through dialogue, traditional songs, stories, and ceremonial practices, the event seeks to reinforce the importance of this keystone species in Indigenous culture and ecosystem stewardship.
The Buffalo Treaty was first signed on September 24, 2014, on the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana, uniting eight First Nations and Tribes in a commitment to buffalo conservation and the revitalization of Indigenous culture.
Be part of this powerful event, as we acknowledge the Buffalo Treaty’s decade-long journey and look toward a future of renewal for the buffalo.
